Head - Investment Compliance & Controls Monitoring

Job description

About M&G India We are M&G India, the strategic innovation and digital hub for M&G. Established in 2003, we have offices in Mumbai and Pune. Our teams work closely with colleagues across the Group worldwide to drive transformation, build digital capability, and support sustainable growth. By leveraging technology, AI, automation, and process excellence, we bring new ways of thinking to improve outcomes for both customers and colleagues. Grounded in a vibrant culture with strong foundations, we are central to how M&G is transforming as a business. About M&G Our purpose is to give everyone real confidence to put their money to work. With a heritage dating back more than 175 years, we have a long history of innovation in savings and investments, combining asset management and insurance expertise to offer a wide range of solutions. Our two distinct operating segments, Asset Management and Life, work together to provide access to balanced, long-term investment and savings solutions. Through telling it like it is, owning it now, and moving it forward together with care and integrity; we are creating an exceptional place to work for exceptional talent. Job Description Job Title: Head - Investment Compliance & Controls Monitoring Job Function: Asset Management Job Sub Function: Controls Office Reports to: Director – Asset Management Location: Mumbai Business Area: Asset Management Overall Job Purpose The Head of Investment Compliance is a senior leadership role accountable for Controls Monitoring, Market Abuse Monitoring and covering the end-to-end investment compliance capability. The capability includes client mandate interpretation, rule coding, pre- and post-trade monitoring, breach management, governance reporting, and continuous control enhancement across portfolios/funds managed by the Asset Management business. Operating within the Global Controls Monitoring capability in the COO/Global Controls environment, the role provides strategic direction, oversight, and leadership to ensure investment activity and holdings remain compliant with client guidelines, prospectus/IMA constraints, house policies, and applicable regulatory requirements , supported by robust systems, data, and operating processes. The role also provides 1st line assurance of controls through continuous controls monitoring along with ensuring compliance with market abuse regulation of trades executed. This is a techno-functional leadership position , requiring strong buy-side asset management domain depth alongside the ability to shape and drive a modern, scalable compliance monitoring and coding function (e.g., Aladdin and related ecosystems), market abuse monitoring, controls monitoring and partner effectively with global stakeholders. Accountabilities/Responsibilities: Strategy, Operating Model & Governance Set the strategy and multi-year roadmap for Investment Compliance (coding + monitoring + governance) and Controls Monitoring, aligned to the Asset Management operating model, risk appetite, and control framework. Establish and own the global operating standards for mandate interpretation, rule taxonomy, evidence and documentation, breach workflows, and escalation thresholds. Lead governance routines, executive updates, and risk forums; provide clear MI and insights on compliance health, emerging risks, and remediation progress. Act as the senior “control owner” for Investment Compliance processes, ensuring appropriate design effectiveness and sustainable oversight. Investment Compliance Coding & Onboarding Leadership Oversee fund/portfolio onboarding and mandate change implementation end-to-end: interpretation → rule specification → coding → testing → go-live assurance. Drive consistent interpretation of prospectus, IMAs, retail product constraints, and house restrictions , ensuring controls are implemented accurately in systems to enable effective monitoring. Sponsor simplification/standardisation initiatives to reduce complexity, improve rule reusability, and shorten time-to-onboard. Pre-Trade / Post-Trade Monitoring & Breach Management Oversee the operational performance and control outcomes of pre-trade and post-trade guideline monitoring (automated and manual where required). Ensure robust breach investigation , root-cause analysis, timely escalation, and closure discipline with clear accountability across front office, investment operations, and product. Maintain a strong control environment to manage complex instruments and strategies (derivatives, structured products, private assets where applicable) and evolving ESG/sustainability constraints. Controls Monitoring & Market Abuse Monitoring Oversee the team’s control monitoring and market abuse monitoring outcomes. Ensure monitoring is robust, complete and accurate. Ensure escalations from monitoring are being taking forward by stakeholders Ensure regular review of monitoring thresholds with suitable governance. Risk, Audit, Regulatory Change & Control Enhancement Serve as primary senior contact for audits, assurance reviews, control testing, and escalations , ensuring high-quality responses and remediation plans. Build a proactive regulatory change capability: assess impact, translate requirements into controls/rules, and track implementation across systems and processes. Drive continuous improvements to strengthen preventative controls, reduce repeats, and enhance transparency and traceability. Technology, Data & Transformation Sponsor technology improvements across investment compliance tooling (e.g., Aladdin) market abuse tooling (e.g. MAST), data quality, rule logic, automation, and workflow digitisation. Partner with Technology and Data teams to enhance: rule lifecycle management (versioning, testing, approvals), data lineage and quality controls, reporting/analytics (Power BI dashboards, metrics), operational resilience and scalability. Lead strategic projects and act as a change agent, combining domain expertise with strong execution discipline. Stakeholder Leadership & Influence Build trusted partnerships with Portfolio Managers, Client Directors, Product Specialists, Dealers/Trading desks, Cash Managers, and disclosure teams. Collaborate closely with Risk, Compliance, Legal, and global controls stakeholders to ensure consistent interpretation and effective risk management culture. Present clearly to senior leadership, providing pragmatic options, risk-based recommendations, and decision-ready insights. People Leadership, Talent & Culture Lead, coach, and develop managers and specialists across coding and monitoring; build a high-performing team with strong risk mindset and client orientation. Define capability standards (skills, accreditation, quality gates) and succession plans; drive recruitment and talent development aligned to the function’s growth. Embed M&G behaviours and a culture of ownership, transparency, and continuous improvement. Success Measures of the role Reduction in repeat breaches; improved time-to-detect / time-to-resolve. Onboarding / mandate-change cycle time and first-time-right coding quality. Audit/assurance outcomes and closure timeliness of findings. Strength of MI, transparency, and senior stakeholder confidence. Automation uplift, resilience, and scalability of the compliance monitoring framework. Key Stakeholder Management Internal • COO / Global Controls leadership and Control Owners • Investment / Front Office, Investment & Client Operations, Product & Distribution • Risk, Compliance (2LoD), Legal, Internal Audit (3LoD) • Technology, Data, Change/Transformation teams External • Clients / Client Representatives (as needed for guideline interpretation and material changes) • Vendors / platforms (e.g., Aladdin ecosystem) • External auditors/assurance partners (where applicable) Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Educational Qualification Knowledge & Skills: Leadership & Commercial Judgement Proven senior leadership experience running a global/complex operational control function, with strong accountability for outcomes and governance. Ability to influence and partner with senior stakeholders, including front office, risk, and technology. Domain Expertise (Buy-Side Investment Compliance) Deep understanding of investment guidelines, mandate interpretation (IMA/prospectus), and portfolio compliance monitoring across asset classes. Strong knowledge of capital markets and instruments, including derivatives; ability to translate complex requirements into robust controls and rule logic. Strong understanding of ESG guidelines and sustainability frameworks and their translation into monitorable constraints. Technology & Data Strong techno-functional orientation: ability to shape systems-based controls, rule frameworks, and process automation. Familiarity with SQL and logic-based rule implementation concepts; ability to guide teams on testing, data dependencies, and control evidence. Experience with BlackRock Aladdin (or equivalent compliance monitoring platforms) strongly preferred. Strong MI and reporting capability (Excel/PowerPoint/Power BI). Delivery & Transformation Track record of leading cross-functional change and driving measurable improvements in controls, quality, throughput, and risk outcomes. Comfortable operating in fast-paced environments with high consequence decision-making. Knowledge & Skills (Additional / Preferred) Understanding of UK/European regulatory frameworks impacting guideline monitoring (e.g., UCITS/AIFMD/NURS/COLL) and broader market conduct expectations. Experience operating in a multi-cultural, globally distributed environment. Curiosity and continuous improvement mindset; challenges the status quo with pragmatic solutions. Experience: 15+ years’ experience in a buy-side asset management environment, with significant depth in investment compliance / guideline monitoring and breach governance. Demonstrable experience leading teams across coding and monitoring, managing senior stakeholders, and delivering enterprise-level change. Strong experience interpreting Fund prospectus, IMAs, and converting requirements into system controls and operational processes. Educational Qualification: Master's degree in Finance / Economics / Mathematics (or equivalent). CFA preferred; FRM desirable; relevant Investment Operations/Investment Management qualifications beneficial. Technical certifications (SQL/VBA or modern equivalents) desirable. Note: *We are in Hybrid working with three days’ work from office (subject to policy change) We have a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture at M&G Global Services, regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, nationality, disability or long term condition, we are looking to attract, promote and retain exceptional people. We also welcome those who take part in military service and those returning from career breaks.